Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur has spoken about the crucial role Rohit Sharma played in his memorable innings at the Gabba during India’s iconic Test win over Australia in 2021. Thakur put together a game-changing 123-run partnership with Washington Sundar for the seventh wicket to help the Indian team approach their total 369 Australian first innings.
Shardul Thakur was brought to the crease when India were struggling at 186/6, but the all-rounder showed tremendous composure and aggression and went on to produce a remarkable knock of 67 runs off 115 balls, including nine boundaries and two sixes at The Gabba. despite playing only his second Test.
Shardul Thakur reveals Rohit Sharma’s important role in his iconic Gabba knock
Thakur recently reflected on his memorable innings at The Gabba as he revealed that Rohit Sharma used subtle sign language from the dugout to guide him at crucial moments in the fourth Test against Australia in Brisbane.
Shardul further noted that Sharma was used to cue him when the bowlers were tired or nearing the end of their innings, helping the Mumbai cricketer to time his aggression wisely and maintain focus on Australia’s formidable bowling attack during the 2020-21 India tour.
Rohit was speaking to me in sign language from the dugout: Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur was quoted as saying by The Cricket Monthly: “Rohit was speaking to me in sign language from the dugout. It showed when a bowler was tired or coming to the end of his spell. Like, I think this happened when Hazlewood was coming to the end of a spell. Rohit asked me to wait and not push to play shots.”
Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur, who went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, also shared a moment from the second innings where he missed a chance to end the game as Josh Hazlewood dismissed him cheaply for 2 runs and this led to a stern word from Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
When I headed to the dugout, Rohit scolded me for not finishing the game: Thakur
Confident after his heroics in his first few games, Thakur attempted an ambitious shot and was dismissed by Hazlewood at The Gabba. However, Rishabh Pant’s iconic knock of 89* runs got India over the line and they made history by winning the Test match by three wickets.
He signed off saying: “From the performance of the first participants I had a lot of confidence. Unfortunately, trying to hit over the leg side, I made the top. I had chosen two rows of a similar kind of tradition, which I had thrown from the hips. The pressure was on once again. When I headed to the dugout, Rohit scolded me for not finishing it, but I defended myself, saying I wasn’t playing a spontaneous shot.”
In particular, the 2021 Gabba Test remains one of the most iconic moments in the history of Indian cricket and right now, Rohit Sharma and his team face the mighty Aussies at the same venue in the third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. However, it remains to be seen whether India will repeat this historic triumph over the Australian side.
